Play-off preview | Dragons v Robins
29 Sep 2021
Team news
Catalans are close to full strength ahead of their Play-off semi-final against the Robins. Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel contender Sam Tomkins is included in the Dragons 21-man squad - the full-back limped off with a knee injury during Catalans last match against Wigan less than two weeks ago.
The Robins make just one change to their squad ahead of Thursday's trip to the South of France. Six-time Grand Final winner Ryan Hall returns to the Hull KR squad in a huge boost for Tony Smith's side.
Hall crossed for a hat-trick in Round 1 against the Dragons and replaces Rowan Milnes in the Robins 21-man squad.
Catalans Dragons: Arthur Mourgue, Tom Davies, Samisoni Langi, Dean Whare, Fouad Yaha, James Maloney, Josh Drinkwater, Gil Dudson, Micky McIlorum, Julian Bousquet, Matt Whitley, Mike McMeeken, Benjamin Garcia, Benjamin Jullien, Mickael Goudemand, Matthieu Laguerre, Joel Tomkins, Joe Chan, Sam Kasiano, Sam Tomkins, Jordan Dezaria.
Hull KR: Ben Crooks, SKD, Ryan Hall, Jordan Abdull, Albert Vete, Korbin Sims, Brad Takairangi, Kane Linnett, Jez Litten, George Lawler, George King, Matty Storton, Will Dagger, Mikey Lewis, Joe Keyes, Will Maher, Luis Johnson, Muizz Mustapha, Will Tate, Tom Whur, Jimmy Keinhorst.
Head to head
Last 10 meetings
Robins 16 - 23 Dragons (SLR17, 2/8/21)
Dragons 32 – 30 Robins (SLR13, 24/7/21)
Dragons 29 – 28 Robins (aet) (SLR1, 27/3/21)
(at Emerald Headingley, Leeds)
Dragons 34 - 4 Robins (SLR15, 9/10/20)
Dragons 6 - 24 Robins (SLR27, 31/8/19)
Robins 16 – 18 Dragons (SLR6, 17/3/19)
Dragons 18 - 16 Robins (SLR5, 10/3/18)
Robins 23 - 4 Dragons (SLR12, 15/2/18)
Robins 19 – 20 Dragons (S8Q-R6, 15/9/17)
Dragons 34 - 16 Robins (SLR16, 28/5/16)
Last 6 matches
Key players
James Maloney
Fresh from his inclusion in the 2021 Betfred Super League Dream Team, Maloney will be pivotal to Catalans success on Thursday Night. Maloney has a wealth of big game experience. He has won NRL Grand Final’s with both Sydney Roosters and Cronulla Sharks. And this year, he’s been the talisman for the Dragons when it mattered.
His golden point drop goal at Dacia Magic Weekend sealed a historic victory and the League Leaders’ Shield for Catalans. Before that, back in Round 1, he kicked the winning drop goal in golden point against Thursday’s opponents, Hull KR. Those decisive plays alongside Maloney’s astute kicking game and leadership will be key for the Dragons on Thursday. If they are to make their first ever Grand Final appearance on October 9, Maloney will have an important part to play.
Never write off the S̵a̵i̵n̵t̵s̵ Dragons ??🔥@DragonsOfficiel win the game and the League Leaders' Shield 🙌#SuperLeague #MagicWeekend #SLStHCat pic.twitter.com/c3pxRRKEQ2
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 4, 2021
Sam Kasiano
Super-sub Kasiano has been unstoppable for the Dragons this season. His impact from the bench has been nothing short of sensational. Kasiano has been nominated twice for the Player of the Month award in 2021 - most recently for September - and has proved to be a huge asset to Steve McNamara's side. The Dragons workman like forwards are offset by Kasiano's bustling ball running - he can break tackles, pierce through the defensive line and find an offload on a knife-edge.
The Robins showed plenty of defensive grit against Warrington last week but a player like Kasiano could very well unsettle them. His inclusion into the game after the opening exchanges could easily be the difference on Thursday Night - after a gruelling match against the Wolves, a fresh Sam Kasiano will be hoping to steamroll the Robins defence and lay a winning platform for his Dragons side.
Wow 😳
Kasiano levels it up... Golden point incoming ??#SuperLeague #MagicWeekend #SLStHCat pic.twitter.com/fWyreiFVDi
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 4, 2021
Jordan Abdull
It's hard to look past Abdull's influence after a Man of the Match performance against Warrington last week. Playing opposite two superstar halves in Widdop and Williams, Abdull was head and shoulders above them. He stated his intent early in the contest with a superb solo try - demonstrating his bravery, strength and skill to take the Wolves line on and score the opening four pointer.
He's developing into an impressive, all-round half back who is in the contest from minute one to 80. He kicked the Wolves to death and controlled the Robins attack effortlessly. His partnership with Mikey Lewis is one to be extremely excited about. Two young, English half backs that play with freedom and vigour - they will need all that and more when they head to the South of France on Thursday as the Robins look to secure a historic Grand Final appearance.
Abdull! 🔥 The Robins lead against the run of the play 💪
Live on Sky Sports Arena NOW ??#SuperLeague #SLWarHKR pic.twitter.com/kU8EqzRSJr
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 24, 2021
Jez Litten
The loss of Matt Parcell in the final round two weeks ago could have been devastating for the Robins Play-off chances. Parcell has been a standout for Hull KR in recent months. But, thanks to the performance of Jez Litten, it was merely a bump in the road. Litten showed all the electricity and pace out of dummy half needed to unsettle the Wolves middlemen - his nine dummy-half runs kept the Warrington middle third honest and provided the Robins outside backs more space to shine.
And it wasn't just in attack that Litten impressed. He came up with a couple of huge plays in defence - asserting himself in the Robins defensive line against a Wolves team that certainly packs a punch. He comes up against a Dragons side with similar, hard-nosed forwards. Forwards that will look to dominate the ruck in both attack and defence. Litten's contributions out of dummy-half will be pivotal for the Robins if they are to earn an elusive win against this year’s League Leaders.
